“57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” by Bruce Springsteen
“57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” is a song by Bruce Springsteen, released in 1992 as part of his album Human Touch. The track stands out for its minimalist arrangement, featuring a bass-driven melody and spoken-word lyrics. Unlike many of Springsteen’s more traditional rock songs, this one embraces a stripped-down, almost experimental style that reflects the themes of isolation and consumer culture. The song was released as a single but did not achieve significant commercial success, though it remains notable for its social commentary.
Lyrically, “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” critiques the excesses of modern television and the emptiness of material wealth. The song’s protagonist has everything he seemingly needs, including a home and access to numerous TV channels, yet he finds himself unfulfilled and disconnected. The repetition of the phrase “and nothin’ on” emphasizes the overwhelming yet hollow nature of entertainment choices in the early 1990s, a theme that remains relevant in today’s era of digital media saturation.
Despite its lukewarm reception at the time, the song has gained recognition for its prescient message about media overload. Springsteen’s choice to use a sparse, almost hypnotic arrangement reinforces the song’s commentary on boredom and disconnection. Over the years, “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)” has been appreciated as an unusual yet thought-provoking entry in Springsteen’s catalog, offering a sharp contrast to his more anthemic and narrative-driven works.
Technical Details of “57 Channels (And Nothin’ On)”
- Artist: Bruce Springsteen
- Album: Human Touch
- Release Date: March 31, 1992
- Genre: Rock, Experimental Rock
- Length: 2:25
- Label: Columbia Records
- Songwriter: Bruce Springsteen
- Producer(s): Bruce Springsteen, Jon Landau, Chuck Plotkin, Roy Bittan
- Instrumentation: Bass, synthesizers, percussion, spoken-word vocals
- Lyrical Theme: Media oversaturation, isolation, consumer culture
- Single Release: Yes (with a remix version)
- Chart Performance: Limited commercial success
- Notable Remix: Little Steven Remix with added hip-hop and funk elements
- Music Video: Directed by Adam Bernstein
- Cultural Relevance: Commentary on television and entertainment excess in the early 1990s
Lyrics
I bought a bourgeois house in the Hollywood hills
With a truckload of hundred thousand dollar bills
Man came by to hook up my cable TV
We settled in for the night my baby and me
We switched ’round and ’round ’til half-past dawn
There was fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on
Well now home entertainment was my baby’s wish
So I hopped into town for a satellite dish
I tied it to the top of my Japanese car
I came home and I pointed it out into the stars
A message came back from the great beyond
There’s fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on
Well we might’a made some friends with some billionaires
We might’a got all nice and friendly
If we’d made it upstairs
All I got was a note that said “Bye-bye John
Our love is fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on”
So I bought a .44 magnum it was solid steel cast
And in the blessed name of Elvis well I just let it blast
‘Til my TV lay in pieces there at my feet
And they busted me for disturbin’ the almighty peace
Judge said “What you got in your defense son?”
“Fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on”
I can see by your eyes friend you’re just about gone
Fifty-seven channels and nothin’ on…
Fifty-seven channels and nothin’
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